One spy agency has issued an urgent warning to iPhone users, advising them to change crucial settings after Apple removed a major security feature. While the tech giant tries to promote its various security features, there's been recent backlash involving iPhone hacks and the fact that Apple Intelligence was enabled by default with iOS 18.
Things came to a head when Apple removed its high-level Advanced Data Protection (ADP) security tool in the United Kingdom and put up to 19 million users at risk.
As reported by the Daily Telegraph, the UK's National Cyber Security Centre advises consumers to enable the Advanced Data Protection setting to protect themselves from potential privacy hacks.
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GCHQ is effectively the UK's answer to the National Security Agency, and with the pair working in tandem, the cyber team explained how ADP can "reduce the likelihood of becoming victims of a cyber attack."
That's easier said than done now that the ADP has been axed, but if you're in the USA, Forbes reiterates there are some steps you should be taking.
The FBI and Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) take a different stance, and while the FBI wants the same 'lawful access' as the UK government to encrypted iPhone and Android devices, CISA encourages users to download the Signal messaging app.
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This looks like it's becoming a global problem, particularly for iPhone owners. Forbes points out that the government in Sweden is apparently readying legislation that would allow unfettered access to Signal and WhatsApp, but despite Sweden's military using Signal, these apps would likely withdraw from the country altogether.
To activate ADP for iCloud on iPhone, open the Settings app and Tap your name. Then select iCloud and scroll down to Advanced Data Protection. Follow the on-screen instructions to review recovery methods and ensure Advanced Data Protection is turned on.
As previously noted, the lack of ADP in the UK means 14 iCloud data categories like Keychain and FaceTime remain unaffected due to their end-to-end encryption. Nine others, including Photos and iCloud Backup, remain open to potential snooping.
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While Apple has previously switched between standard encryption and the Fort Knox-inspired end-to-end encryption (E2EE), ADP allows you to affix E2EE to almost all your data. Instead of installing a backdoor to all iCloud data like the UK government requested, Apple simply nixed the feature.
Discussing the removal of ADP, Apple said that it was 'gravely disappointed' that it could no longer offer ADP, adding that it "will not be available to our customers in the UK given the continuing rise of data breaches and other threats to customer privacy."
As Europe is already debating 'chat control' that would allow some kind of screening on all messaging platforms, the issue of encryption has never been hotter. America is a major power in the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing alliance alongside Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the UK. But if one of the dominoes has already fallen, the others might not be far behind.